Centrifuge for processing blood and blood components in ring-type blood processing bags

Abstract

A centrifuge intended for processing blood and blood components of use with a ring type blood processing bag with associated secondary bags. The rotor of the centrifuge has supports arranged along its periphery and a rotating inner lid a clamp function that secures the ring bag along and between supports. The supports can also function as valves or a welding apparatus for the tubing between the processing bag and the associated secondary bags.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A centrifuge for processing blood components in a ring bag, the centrifuge comprising a rotor which has an outer peripheral space adapted for use with a ring bag and a central space adapted for use with a secondary bag which is connected via a tube to the ring bag, whereby the rotor allows for at least partially emptying the ring bag, and whereby the rotor also includes a shaft and a lid that are rotatable therewith, the rotor also having arranged supports to position the ring bag in the outer space relative to the arranged supports, whereby at least one of the supports comprises a guide groove in which is adapted to be disposed the tube which connects the ring bag and secondary bag, a controllable clamp valve in said guide grove, whereby the tube can be blocked by clamping the controllable clamp valve in the guide groove. 
     
     
       2. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby at least one of the supports has disposed within the corresponding guide groove thereof a welding station which can be actuated to block the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       3. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 2 , whereby the welding station is supplied by power via a slip ring arranged along the rotor shaft. 
     
     
       4. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 2 , whereby the welding station is adapted to weld the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       5. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 2 , whereby the welding station is adapted to cut the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       6. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1  whereby at least some of the supports are located asymmetrically for defining the position of a ring bag in the centrifuge. 
     
     
       7. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1  in which the centrifuge has a second, outer lid which has a holder disposed thereon, whereby when the outer lid is open, one or more further bags are adapted to be suspended therefrom, and whereby the holder is connected to a motor which when it is activated makes an incomplete revolution forward and backwards in order to expose the one or more further bags to a mechanical mixing motion for mixing of any substance contained therein. 
     
     
       8. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 7 , whereby at a point above the holder, a suspension instrument is disposed from said centrifuge for holding a hanging container. 
     
     
       9. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby the controllable clamp valve is supplied by power via a slip ring arranged along the rotor shaft. 
     
     
       10. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby at least one of the supports has disposed within the corresponding guide groove thereof the controllable clamp valve and a welding station each of which being actuatable to block the tube disposed therein. 
     
     
       11. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 10 , whereby the respective controllable clamp valve and welding station are supplied by power via a slip ring arranged along the rotor shaft. 
     
     
       12. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 10 , whereby the welding station may be actuated to weld the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       13. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 10 , whereby the welding station may be actuated to cut the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       14. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1  whereby at least one of the supports has disposed within the corresponding guide groove thereof an element which is adapted to be activated as the controllable clamp to block the tube and further is adapted to be activated as a welder to weld the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       15. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 14  whereby the element is adapted to be activated to cut the tube adapted to be disposed therein. 
     
     
       16. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby the rotor has disposed therein a photocell to sense discrete substances. 
     
     
       17. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 16 , whereby the photocell is supplied by power via a slip ring arranged along the rotor shaft. 
     
     
       18. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 16  whereby the photocell is located in the lid of the rotor. 
     
     
       19. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 16 , whereby the photocell is disposed adjacent the ring bag to sense discrete substances disposed therein. 
     
     
       20. A centrifuge in accordance with  claim 16  whereby the photocell is disposed adjacent the tube to sense discrete substances disposed therein.